Ghost Adventures & Paranormal Television

I've publicly confessed to being a bit of an addict of paranormal activity shows, especially Ghost Adventures (GA), but for what I think are good reasons.

The goal of GA, stated many times during their 8 seasons, is to gather what they think is scientific evidence for life after death from all over the world through their interactions with ghosts, which they understand to be once-embodied humans who now live among us in spirit forms.

Now, I’m the first to acknowledge that their evidence could be faked and the noises they catch could be bugs or animals or people (I have a student who promises me her dad and a friend made the noises recorded here by the GA Crew at the Bird Cage Theater).  However, if you chose to trust the guys on this or other shows, the evidence they've gotten is nothing short of amazing, even jaw-dropping.

I think a Christian should watch this show, not all the time, but a couple times.  Why?  Positively, these shows, if real, give one of hundreds of lines of evidence that prove the Christian worldview is true, namely, that reality is not purely physical, as naturalists / materialists say it is.  Rather, reality is both physical and non-physical.  However, other than entertainment value, that's about where the positive effects of shows like GA end.

If the Christian worldview is true, then these shows don't give evidence for life after death at all (see Hebrews 9:27), but give a lot of evidence for demonic activity--the guys on GA admit they interact with demons regularly.  Shows like GA actually give proof that demons are real, and a real threat to people today, even physically (watch this clip from GA).  This proof should warn anyone watching to stay far away from the occult, or bad things can happen to you (watch the first 9 minutes of this GA video), both from demons and from God who will punish you (see Deut 18:9-14).

Also, since these are demons, we learn from the Bible that these entities are dominated by pride since they are foolishly rebelling against the God they once served in the presence of.  Their pride drives them to bring more attention to themselves, and occult activity, which these shows encourage people to open themselves up to, give them that attention.  I've personally seen how powerful a recruit it is for getting people into "paranormal investigation," a 21st century form of necromancy and divination, which can lead to demonic possession, and even worse.  What could possibly be worse than possession?

Ultimately, shows like GA can have horrendous eternal consequences because it actually attacks the central message of Christianity.  It is a modern day scheme of the devil that Christians should be aware of (2 Cor 2:11) that keeps people from Jesus.  How? By propogating the lie that there is life after death apart from His sinless life, substitutionary death and victorious resurrection.  Jesus in the worldview of GA is completely unnecessary (unless one is attacked by a demon)--no wrath, no hell, you just live on!  I don’t think demons care what you’re deceived with, as long as you’re deceived, and this is a new, powerful tactic they are using.

So, in the end, I encourage you to repent of your sins and entrust the safety of your soul after death to Jesus, not to paranormal investigators who are, I think, getting evidence, but not for life after death.

These are my reasons--take them or leave them!  I hope that helps!  TII!!!

Groothuis on Expelled

Read an excellent review of Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed by Dr. Doug Groothuis here, a man I don't always agree with but who I highly respect after reading his excellent book Truth Decay. I will write my own review after I see it this week.

Should We Be Ashamed At This?

According to the National Council of Churches' 2008 Yearbook of American & Canadian Churches the two fastest growing "church" bodies are Jehovah's Witnesses and the Mormons. Read a summary of the report here.

Ambassadors: Buiding Bridges for God's Kingdom

What was your reaction to Pastor Mike's message this weekend from 2 Corinthians 5:17-21?

Just to remind you, his three points were:
1. Love Your Neighbor (vv. 17, 21)
2. Embrace Your Job (vv. 18-19)
3. Start "Representing" (v. 20)

If you missed it you can watch it here, or if you just want to listen to it go here.

2008 Truth & Life Conference

Just a quick entry to say Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. As a result of your prayers, God truly blessed the seminar I gave at the Truth & Life Conference last week at The Master's College.

I spoke on "How to Fail at Life and Ministry" with the thesis that the bad reputation many doctrinally sound, Bible believing circles have for being cold, unloving, elitist, confrontational, disrespectful and self-righteous is directly tied to God's reputation in this world.

MANY are flooding away from our circles for other religions and cults, the New Age and occult as well as more liberal forms of Christianity either in mainline churches or the emergent movement / conversation, not because of prolonged exposure to God's Word, but because of interaction they've had with us.

By the way, the biblical way of talking about giving God a good name, a good reputation is a very common saying in our circles. Giving God a good name with our lives is EXACTLY the same as saying I'm living for the glory of God.

So, if our reputation is bad because of us (and not because of our message), we're not glorifying Him no matter how theologically rich we are, how much we love the Bible, how much we love preaching, the gospel and the local church. If you're still not convinced that God cares about our reputation, read Romans 2:24. In short, it is not optional for those who love the Word of the Spirit most to go above and beyond to demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit most.

We'll see what the fall out ends up being on a message like that (especially when the podcast goes online), but as of now I've received nothing but positive feedback from everyone, and pray that God will use it to give us a better reputation since nothing less than His glory is on the line.

Archaeology Supports Bible...AGAIN!!!

Thanks to BTW for posting on a find in Jerusalem, read about it here, a family seal from the first temple period with a name with a family name found in Nehemiah 7:55.

Does it say the name and then "as written in the Bible"? No, but it does show it was a name used at the time, like the Bible says, and it does not contradict the Bible in anyway, but rather the find further supports it's historicity and accuracy.

Remember the Persecuted

This Christmas, while we in America are enjoying the last vestiges of religious freedom and tolerance, don't forget the millions of persecuted Christians around the world:

• Christian bookstore owner arrested in communist China
• Anti-Christian TV leads to violence by Muslims in Turkey
• Hindu mobs threaten the safety of Christians in India
• Political party promises persecution if elected in India
  
• Christians murdered and churches burned down in Nigeria
• Teenagers beheaded for being Christians in Indonesia
• Prominent Christian leader murdered in Gaza
• Two shootings, just hours apart, in Colorado
  

And these are the stories from just three websites for just the month of December!!!

Nehemiah's Wall FOUND!!!

Click here to read a recent article about how the elusive wall of Nehemiah, the one he led the construction of in something like 52 days in the mid to late 400s BC that encompassed the city of Jerusalem, has been found--further proof for the veracity and historical reliability of the Bible from beginning to end!!!

My favorite line: "'We were amazed,' she said, noting that the discovery was made at a time when many scholars argued that the wall did not exist."

No irrational leap of faith needed to believe the Bible's true! In fact, with all these facts supporting the Bible it seems the one depending on "faith" is the one who denies the Bible is true.

U Believe in the Trinity? Prove it!!!

This is the only illustration of the Trinity I know of that does not lead to or directly teach heresy.

I spoke on this topic tonight, and I'll post here what I gave the people at the 20s ministry of Compass Bible Church. I tried to summarize the Bible's teachings that, when combined, become the doctrine of the Trinity. Here is what I gave them:

The Biblical Doctrine of the Trinity

Definition: “God eternally exists as three persons--Father, Son & Holy Spirit--and each person is fully God, [yet] there is one God” (Grudem).

Three Step Proof / Argument

1. There is Only One God – Deut 4:35, 39; 6:4; 1 Kgs 8:60; Isa 43:10, 45:5-6; Mark 12:29; Eph 4:6; 1 Tim 1:17; James 2:19
2. The Bible Identifies 3 Persons as Equally God
1. The Father is God: 1 Cor 8:6; Phil 1:2
2. The Son is God: John 20:28; Titus 2:13; Heb 1:3-8; 2 Pet 1:1
3. The Spirit is God: Acts 5:3-4; 1 Cor 3:16, 6:19; 2 Cor 3:17-18
   
3. The 3 Persons are Distinct from Each Other: Matt 28:19
1. The Father is NOT the Son: John 14:23, 17:24; 1 Cor 8:6
2. The Father is NOT the Spirit: John 14:26; Rom 8:26
3. The Son is NOT the Spirit: John 14:16, 15:26

The Trinity is simply an attempt to summarize the biblical data above without contradiction:
1 God (1 what), 3 Persons (3 who’s)

It seems to me, although I'm no expert, that every heresy denies at least one of the three proofs. Either someone posits more than one God (e.g., Mormons, JWs, Hindus, etc.), denies the deity of one Person (JWs, Islam, Judaism, Mormons, etc.) and/or combines distinct Persons into one Person (oneness Pentecostals, modalists, etc.).

I printed this on little cards that I hope they'll keep it in their Bibles so that when they get that knock on the door they'll be ready to engage rather than retreat.

1 Cor 2:14 and 2 Cor 4:4 in Action

What's your reaction when you read things like this (if you can read such tiny print!)?

I know at first I was angry (like I'd be if someone ridiculed my mom or dad), but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that the only reason I'm not saying the same thing and worse is because God's been so kind to me, opening my eyes to the truth I once denied and freeing me from the sin that held me captive to lies.

In case you were wondering, 1 Corinthians 2:14 says "The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned" and 2 Corinthians 4:4 says "In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God."

Therefore, my anger quickly turned to sorrow and compassion (though not as quickly as I would've liked). I'd love to talk to the person who wrote that, or anyone who agrees.

Dawkins' God Delusion

This article says Archbishop Rowan Williams gave the same assessment of Richard Dawkins' The God Delusion as my friend and mentor and president of the Apologetics Information Ministry Craig Hawkins gave it on his radio show last night, Living By The Word, namely, that Dawkins is a good scientist, but a bad philosopher.

Christian Persecution in Egypt

Radical Islamic lawyers join the government's opposition of a newly converted Christian from Islam in Egypt who's life has been threatened for this. Read more about what this brother and his wife are facing here.

Palestinians Murder Christian

Read here about the murder of Rami Ayyad, manager of a Christian bookstore operated by the Palestinian Bible Society in the Palestinian territory of Gaza.

Turkey: Leads on Murderers of 3 Christians

I posted earlier this year about the murder of three Christians, the men pictured above, in Turkey here.

I found out here that they have some suspects from inside the Turkish military who may be responsible for their gruesome torture and murder.

Pastor Necati Aydin, 36; Ugur Yuksel, 32; and Tilmann Geske, 46. Three more the world is not worthy of.

Preacher Murdered by Hindus

For being humanly responsible for the conversion of three families from Hinduism and to Christianity, Ajay Topno was murdered (read story here).

"Topno left his house on September 16, telling his wife that he was going to Sahoda village, but he never returned."

The world is not worthy of men like Ajay.

10 Christians Slaughtered...

In Northern Nigeria Muslims destroyed 9 churches, displaced some 500 Christians, injured 61 and slaughtered 10. Why? "Muslim high school students claimed a Christian student had drawn a cartoon of Islam’s prophet, Muhammad, on the wall of the school’s mosque" (see the rest of the story here and here).

The Best Biography for FREE!!!!!!!!

Christianaudio.com gives away a free audio book every month. Most months are good; this month is phenomenal!!!

One of the best, most impacting (see my blogs about it here and here) books I've ever listened to and never finished is the one they're offering free here: Jonathan Edwards' classic, The Life of David Brainerd.

If you have not read this book, I HIGHLY recommend it. I pray that I'll have half the love and devotion to Christ, insight into my heart and zeal for the gospel that this young man did. This and much more pours out of every page of his Life.

If you usually let these pass by, do yourself a favor and don't let this one. Download and listen to this treasure and you'll never be the same again.

Just Ask!!!

I read this interesting statistic here. I don't know how true it is, but thought I would share it with you:

"According to the Church of England, 6 percent of the adult population, or 3 million people, would come back to church if they received a personal invitation."

Put it to the test and see what happens -- 3 out of every 50 people you ask to church will say "Yes."

Cults Are Invading Russia!!!

I spent my evening at a fund raiser for the Russian arm of the Centers for Apologetics Research (CFAR). We heard about the dozens and dozens of western and eastern cults (many of which were "born" here in the U.S., which the founder, Paul Cardin, called the greatest exporter of error on the planet today) that are flooding the former Soviet Union.

Having come home from Ukraine two months ago, I was truly moved, even to tears, when Mr. Cardin told us about this invasion and then told us that CFAR is the first and ONLY evangelical countercults ministry in the former Soviet Union. And, I spoke with the Russian brother Pasha who heads up the ministry in St. Petersburg who told me that the cults are MORE active in Ukraine than Russia because Ukraine has more freedom (for instance, the Mormons are building their first temple in the former USSR in Kiev, Ukraine's capital city).

Ron Rhodes, noted author, scholar and countercult evangelist, was the keynote speaker who gave us "10 Keys to Witnessing to the Cults," and I want to share them with you here. These keys come from his many years of evangelism to cultists:

1. Don't Assume All Cultists Believe Exactly the Same Thing -- for example, all Jehovah's Witnesses don't agree so instead of telling them what they believe and why you disagree (which I've done), ask them what they believe and THEN dialogue.
2. Know Your Bible -- and, keep taking them back to it over and over again
3. Know that Cultists Are Trained to Answer Your Objections
4. Always Check Their Scripture References -- and NEVER take their interpretation of a passage as true
5. Always Define Your Terms -- because they use the same words we do, but with totally different meanings
6. Ask Strategic Questions -- force them to think (just like Jesus did with His questions)
7. Be Loving -- Arrogence always undermines your right answers, and make sure you love the cultist after God saves them because they'll likely loose all community
8. Demonstrate Jesus' Deity -- know what the Bible teaches on this (e.g., Isa 43:11 --> Titus 2:13-14 = Jesus is Savior and God)
9. Emphasize God's Awesome Gospel of Grace -- in a works-righteousness religious systems where people are earning their salvation, they are often overcome with guilt, frustration & despair, and need to hear of the grace only found in the biblical Gospel
   
10. Give Your Testimony -- and focus on God's specific grace to you
    

As I sat there, my heart was further breaking for the church I went to in Zhitomir, and knowing what I do about the conditions in that church, I know it is just ripe to be decimated by a cult.

Ministries like CFAR, and there aren't ANY in the former USSR but CFAR, need our help. Please, please, please think about supporting them by clicking here.

The Evangelism Linebacker

If you need a good laugh, click on the first video here and meet the Evangelism Linebacker.